Foot-gear.



B. A. COX.

FOOT GEAR.

APPLIOATION FILED 00T. ze, 1911.

1,040,896. patented 001;.8,1912. f

WIT/@555 N1 INVENTOR, W41/ 61A' MM 0%. Allmya,

BISHOP A. COX, 0F FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS.

FOOT-GEAR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 8, 1912.

Application filed October 26, 1911. Serial No. 657,007.

To all whom 'it may concern.'

Be it known that I, BISHOP A. Cox, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fayetteville, in the county of Washington and State of Arkansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Foot-Gear; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. ,j

My invention relates to foot gear designed as combined ice Creepers and mountain climbers.

The principal object of the invention is to overcome the discomforts and inconveniences experienced by wearers of such devices heretofore constructed, and to provide an attachment for the shoe which may be worn comfortably, will eHectively prevent slipping and is capable of being secured to the shoe in a manner which not only contributes to the comfort of the wearer but also precludes accidental displacement.

Other objects will become apparent from the following description.

The invention consists of a plate or frame adapted to be secured to the shoe below the ball of the foot by means of novel and improved fastenings arranged before and behind the greatest width of the sole, said plate or frame comprising two sections hinged together and provided with depending calks or prongs arranged directly below the ball of the foot and at both sides of the hinge. v

The invention also consists in the features of construction and combinations of parts, hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and specified in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating the preferred embodiment of my invention: Figure 1 is a side view of the foot gear showing the position of a shoe, when attached, in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a cross section taken through the sole-engaging portion of the foot clamp, and Fig. 3 is an under plan view of the device as illustrated in Fig. l.

Referring more particularly to the draw ing, l and 2 designate the front and rear sections, respectively, of the plate or frame of the device which terminates below the instep, said sections being connected by a hinge 3 arranged obliquely and at a point slightly in the rear of the center of the ball of the foot. Said plate or frame is made in skeleton form by bending down therefrom the prongs or calks 4f. Two of these prongs or calks are arranged directly below the ball of the foot but near opposite edges of the plate or frame, just in front of the hinge. The other prongs are arranged substantially on the longitudinal median line of the plate, one being located well forward on the section l and the other on section 2 just behind the hinge. I have found by practical experience that the location of the prongs or calks as described and illustrated gives the best results and affords entire comfort to the wearer by reason of the fact that the rear group of prongs are around the center' of the ball of the foot and on the rear section as well as the front whereby the proper support is given to the instep, while the forward prong is in position to grip the ground as the foot is bent forward in the act of stepping forward with the other one. Furthermore, the location of the front and rear prongs substantially on the longitudinal median line of the plate and the other prongs near the opposite edges of said plate, obviates any tendency of the foot to turn over sidewise.

Each part of the plate or frame is equipped with a pair of sole clamps 5 having longitudinal extensions 6 arranged below said plate and pivoted thereto at their ends farthest removed from the clamps proper. A strap 7 connects each pair of clamps, being passed outwardly through slots 8 and back inwardly through slots 9 in the upwardly projecting portions of said clamps. The slots S and 9 in each clamp are preferably arranged parallel to one another, the lower one being located substantially on a level with the plate. Between said slots on each clamp there is an outwardly projecting stud l0 adapted to engage one of a 'series of perforations l1 in the strap.

It will be observed that when the strap is passed through the slots in the clamps, as just described, and illustrated best in Fig. 2 of the drawing, the engagement by the studs l0 of perforations in the strap will lock said clamps against spreading farther apart than the length of the lower portion of the strap which extends between the clamps and which is arranged flat upon the upper sur face of the plate or frame. The clamps may,

therefore, be adjusted the proper distance apart and eifectually locked so that they will grip the sole of the shoe without depending upon the fastening of the upper part of the strap which passes over the shoe. The office of the straps which pass over the shoe is, therefore, limited to merely supporting the weight of the foot gear, all of the strain incident to walking on said foot gear -being taken care of by the clamps and the portion of the strap which connects them below the sole of the shoe. It is evident that this' arrangement greatly enhances the comfort and convenienceof the wearer.

I claim:

l. The combination, with a plate adapted to be secured to the sole of a shoe, of a pair of oppositely facing' clamps mounted on said plate and having parallel slots in each, studs projecting from the clamps between the slots, and a strap passed through said slots and having perforations adapted to engage said studs for holding said clamps against separation beyond a predetermined limit.

2. The combination with a plate adapted to be secured to the sole of a shoe, of a pair of oppositely facing clamps mounted on said plate and having parallel slots in each, studs projecting from the clamps between the slots, and a strap passed through said slots and having perforations adapted to engage said studs, a portion of said strap being designed to extend below the sole of the shoe and to serve as a connection between the clamps, another portion of said strap adapted to pass over the shoe for supporting the weight of the device.

In testimony whereof, I afliX my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

BISHOP A. COX.

Vitnesses:

I. F. ADAMS, C. L. WHITTEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

